Peruvian authorities announced on Monday that they had seized 2.3 tonnes of cocaine, packaged to look like ceramic tiles, which was to be trafficked by sea to Turkey.

The operation was carried out on Friday at a warehouse in Peru’s largest port, El Callao, a short distance from the capital Lima, police said.

“This is the first case, as far as we know, that (the cargo of drugs was) in a Peruvian port and its final destination was Turkey. Usually destinations are Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and France,” said Cayao police chief Luis Ángel Bolaños.

During a press conference on Monday, police presented some of the seized amount of drugs, which were packaged to look like ceramic tiles placed in wooden packages that had been loaded into a container.

According to police officer Bolanios, the amount of cocaine seized had an estimated sale value of “at least $20 million”.

The Andean country managed to seize 86.4 tons of drugs and other illegal substances in 2022, of which 28 tons were cocaine hydrochloride, according to figures from the Peruvian police. It was a record.

Peru and Colombia are at the top of the world rankings for the production of cocaine and coca leaves, the raw material in the production process of this substance, according to the United Nations.